Tubular wires made from copper coated strip

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a tubular welding electrode comprising the steps of providing a strip of metal material having a length and first and second surfaces, wherein at least the first surface of the strip is at least substantially coated with nickel or a nickel alloy and then copper or a copper alloy, forming the strip into a “U” shape along the length, filling the “U” shape of the strip with a granular powder flux, and mechanically closing the “U” shape to form a sheath of nickel- and copper-coated metal material that substantially encases the granular powder flux, thus forming a tubular welding electrode. In certain embodiments, the metal material may be steel. In certain other embodiments, the metal material may be nickel or a nickel alloy, which may be at least substantially coated with copper or a copper alloy.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.